Bartender salary in Virginia
Bartenders in Virginia earn a median of $47,070 a year ($22.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,370 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,400 for the top 10%. That is 37% higher than the national median of $34,340. Virginia ranks 6th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 3.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $54,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,890 | $13.41 |
| 25th percentile | $34,640 | $16.66 |
| Median | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| 75th percentile | $73,340 | $35.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,400 | $43.46 |
| Average (mean) | $54,200 | $26.06 |
Half of bartenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,922.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,961.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,810.38 |
| Weekly | $905.19 |
| Hourly | $22.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $48,210 | 650 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $48,030 | 14,560 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,700 | 2,860 |
| Roanoke, VA | $46,530 | 520 |
| Richmond, VA | $46,070 | 2,110 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $44,940 | 280 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $44,620 | 180 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $44,350 | 290 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $43,070 | 270 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $41,640 | 240 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $31,240 | 280 |
Highest-paying states for bartenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $55,830 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| Maine | $48,920 |
| Virginia | $47,070 |
| Vermont | $45,450 |
| Arizona | $45,070 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $38,900 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Dishwasher | $33,130 | $15.93 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $32,410 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,870 | $17.25 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Virginia?
The median salary for bartenders in Virginia is $47,070 a year, or $22.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Virginia?
The top 10% of bartenders in Virginia earn at least $90,400 a year. The top 25% earn $73,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,890 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $34,640 or less.
How many bartenders work in Virginia?
About 13,370 bartenders are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.